Signal-storing device with removable signal-storing unit

ABSTRACT

A selective signal storage device which includes a signalstoring unit composed of a supporting shaft and a plurality of disks having signal-storing surfaces on at least one face thereof and being secured axially spaced from each other to the shaft for rotation therewith. Releasable coupling means are provided to releasably couple the supporting shaft to drive means so that the signal-storing unit can be removed as a unit from the remainder of the device.

O Unite States Patent 1 51 3,641,528 Dirks Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SlGNAL-STORING DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE SIGNAL-STORING UNIT References Cit [72] Inventor: Gerhard Dirlks, Los Altos Hills, Calif. UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Dirks Computer Systems Corporation, Los 897,765 9/1908 Morin ..179/ 100.2 Altos Hills, Calif. 2,690,913 10/ 1954 Rabinow. 340/174 1 2,800,642 7/1957 May .340/174 1 [22] 1969 2,811,709 10/1957 Haselton et al.... ..340/174.1

[21] Appl. No.: 876,840

Primary Examiner-Thomas A. Robinson Related US. Application Data Attomey-Michael S. Striker [62] Division of Ser. No. 420,294, Dec. 22, 1964, which is TRq a division of Ser. No. 627,441, Dec. 10, 1956, Fat. [57] ABS CT No. 3,172,082. A selective signal storage device which includes a signal-storing unit composed of a supporting shaft and a plurality of disks [30] Foreign Application Priority Data having signal-storing surfaces on at least one face thereof and being secured axially spaced from each other to the shaft for Dec. 9, 1955 Great Bfltaln rotation therewiflh Releasable p g means are provided to releasably couple the supporting shaft to drive means so that [52] US. Cl. ..340/174.1 C, 179/1001 MD the signal storing unit can be removed as a unit f the [51 Int. Cl. remainder of the device [58] Field of Search ..340/347 PR, 357, 358, 174.1 C;

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1. A selective signal-storing device, comprising, in combination, support means; a signal-storing unit comprising a first shaft and a plurality of parallel disks carried by said first shaft aligned along the axis of the shaft and secured to the latter for rotation therewith, each of said disks having a signal-storing surface on at least one of the faces thereof; wherein said signal-storing surface of each disk is arranged on a face thereof opposite and spaced from said signal-storing surface of an adjacent disk and wherein each of said signal-storing surfaces has a plurality of tracks; bearing means on said support means mounting said first shaft of said signal-storing unit rotatably about said axis and removably from said support means; driving means releasably coupled to said first shaft; a plurality of transducer means, respectively located in the space between opposite faces of a pair of adjacent disks for sensing, recording and erasing signals on the signal-storing surface of a corresponding one of said disks; selector means operatively connected to said plurality of transducer means to align the same with selected tracks of the respective disks; shifting means operable for effecting a relative movement between said disks and at least a selected one of said transducer means in a direction substantially parallel to said axis to bring said so-selected transducer means from an inoperative position spaced from both adjacent disk surfaces to an operative position adjacent to the signal-storing surface of one of said adjacent disks; and control means operatively connected to said transducer means for causing said so-selected transducer means to be operative during a selected phase of rotation of said disks.
 2. A selective signal storing device as defineD in claim 1, wherein said driving means comprise a drive shaft; further comprising retaining means effective in a first position to hold said first shaft and said drive shaft in engagement, and in a second position to release said first shaft for removal of said signal-storing unit from said support means.
 3. A selective signal storing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first shaft has a first and second end portion; and wherein said bearing means are located on said first end portion and said retaining means are operative on said second end portion.
 4. A selective signal-storing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing means comprises a coaxial bore in said first end of said first shaft; a member having a cylindrical end portion mounted on said support means movable between an active position in which said end portion extends into said bore and forms a bearing trunnion for said first shaft and a releasing position withdrawn from said bore, and means on said support means and cooperating with said member for releasably holding said member in said active position.
 5. A selective signal-storing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising switching means connected to said shifting means for controlling the relative movement between said selected one of said transducer means and said disk in such a manner that said transducer means is operative with a selected one of said disks. 